Pump for pumping pasty masses, for example, concrete

ABSTRACT

A pump for pumping pasty masses, for example, wet concrete, comprising a charging hopper, a pump casing defining an inner cylindrical work chamber in which a rotor body provided with a single radial blade reciprocates to separate the work chamber in two subchambers. The casing has entrance and delivery orifices. The rotor blade reciprocates in the work chamber except in a sector where a baffle body is arranged to oscillate between two limiting positions; the rotor blade divides the work chamber into two subchambers, the peripheral edges of the baffle body being in fluid-tight contact with the adjacent inner surfaces of the work chamber. The baffle body is formed as a blade associated with means adapted to oscillate it wherein at one of the limiting positions said baffle blade puts one of the said subchambers in communication with the entrance orifice and the other of said subchambers in communication with the delivery orifice, while at the other limiting position of the baffle blade, the second mentioned subchamber is in communication with the entrance orifice and the first mentioned one in communication with the delivery orifice. The rotor blade during the same time interval performs one of its reciprocating strokes to pump the pasty mass from one subchamber through the delivery orifice and to enable the other subchamber to fill. Upon reversal of direction and repositioning of the baffle blade, this operation is repeated. Means are also provided for synchronizing the baffle blade oscillations with movement of the rotor blade.

United States Patent [191 Rossi 1 PUMP FOR PUMPING PASTY MASSES, FOR

EXAMPLE, CONCRETE [75] Inventor: Lionello Rossi, Via Ciamarra, Italy[73] Assignee: Alpeggio lnvestimento S.A., Lugano,

Switzerland [22 Filed: May24, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 256,283

Primary ExaminerWilliam L. Freeh Assistant Examiner-Richard E. Gluck[57] ABSTRACT A pump for pumping pasty masses, for example, wetconcrete, comprising a charging hopper, a pump casing defining an innercylindrical work chamber in which a rotor body provided with a singleradial blade I [451 Apr. 30, 1974 reciprocates to separate the workchamber in two subchambers. The casing has entrance and deliveryorifices. The rotor blade reciprocates in the work chamber except in asector where a baffle body is arranged to oscillate between two limitingpositions; the rotor blade divides the work chamber into twosubchambers, the peripheral edges of the baffle body being influid-tight contact with the adjacent inner surfaces of the workchamber. The baffle body is formed as a blade associated with meansadapted to oscillate it wherein at one of the limiting positions saidbaffle blade puts one of the said subchambers in communication with theentrance orifice and the other of said subchambers in communication withthe delivery orifice, while at the other limiting position of the baffleblade, the second mentioned subchamber is in communication with theentrance orifice and the first mentioned one in communication with thedelivery orifice. The rotor blade during the same time interval performsone of its reciprocating strokes to pump the pasty mass from onesubchamber through the delivery orifice and to enable the othersubchamber to fill. Upon reversal of direction and repositioning of thebaffle blade, this operation is repeated, Means are also provided forsynchronizing the baffle blade oscillations with movement of the rotorblade.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPNO m4 3; 807.908

SHEET 1 0F 2 PUMP F OR PUNIPING PASTY MASSES, FOR EXAMPLE, CONCRETE Theinvention relates to a pump for pumping thick liquids, pastes andmixtures such as wet concrete for considerable distances and/or heights.The invention primarily relates to pumps for wet concrete that can beused in wheeled plants which are designed to transport the concreteready to be used so that said concrete can be immediately pumpeddirectly up to the desired site locations.

The pump of this invention substantially comprises a casing defining aninner cylindrical work chamber, provided with an entrance orifice incommunication with a hopper, and with a delivery orifice incommunication with a delivery pipe, said orifices being arranged closeto one another in one and the same section of the casing. In said workchamber a rotor body is movable reciprocally, except in said sectionwhere a baffle body oscillates between two limiting positions. The rotorbody formed as a rotor blade separates the work chamber in twosubchambers, so that at the first of said two limiting positions, saidbaffle body puts said entrance orifice in communication with one of thesubchambers and, at the same time, the other subchamber in communicationwith the delivery orifice, while at the other limiting position saidbaffle body puts said lastbody performs one of its strokes so thatduring one of the strokes of said rotor blade, this blade pushes theconcrete along the subchamber which is in communication with thedelivery pipe, whereas during the next stroke of said rotor blade theconcrete which has been previously collected into the other subchamber,i.e., upstream of said blade with respect of the motion direction of theblade during the preceding stroke), is forced towards the delivery pipe,but this material is now caused to travel along said other subchamber inthe opposite direction relative to the preceding one.

Automatic limit switch means are provided,-designed to control in thepredetermined time sequence the reversal of the rotor blade and theoperation of the baffle body, said blade and said baffle body beingactuated by any suitable means, as for instance, hydraulic jacks. Thebaffle body rotates about an axis set at a right angle to the planar endwalls of the pump casing. The entrance orifice is arranged eccentricallythrough one of said planar end walls and the delivery orifice isprovided in the side wall thereof (or vice versa). The entrance orificecommunicates with a charging hopper and the delivery orifice with adelivery pipe. Alternately, said baffle body rotates about a radial axisrelative to the pump rotor as the entrance and the delivery orifices arearranged respectively in the opposite pla nar end walls of the pumpcasing in alignment one to another.

The accompanying drawings show merely by way of example and withoutlimiting the invention two embodiments of the pump according to thepresent invention wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic axial section through a pump rotor and thebaffle body of a first embodiment of this invention, said section beingtaken on the line A-A of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are transverse sectional views, perpendicular to the axesof the pump rotor and of the baffle body, taken on the lines B-B and CCof FIG. 1 respectively;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view similar to that of FIG. 2 butconcerning a second embodiment or variant of the invention, saidsectional view being taken on the line D-D of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line EE of FIG. 4.

Now referring to the FIGS. 1 to 3, at 1 is indicated the hopper whichcommunicates through the entrance orifice 2 with the work chamber 3 ofthe pump, said work chamber defined by the two planar end walls 4a, 4band by a cylindrical side wall 4c. The casing 40, 4b, 4c is constructedin disassemblable parts in order to allow access to the interior of thework chamber 3 and the parts located therein for maintenance purposes orfor the replacement of worn parts. The entrance orifice 2 is arranged inthe planar end wall 4a at an eccentric position with respect to the pumpaxis and underneath said entrance orifice 2 is mounted the baffle bodywhich is constituted of a baffle blade 5 integral with a central spindle6, the axis of which is parallel to that of the pump rotor. At one ofits two limiting positions (shown in solid lines) the baffle blade 5 hasits sides in fluid-tight contact with the adjacent inner surfaces of thework chamber 3, while at the other limiting position (shown in brokenlines) the blade 5 is brought into a symmetric position with respect tothe centre plane passing through the axes of the spindle 6 and of therotor shaft which will be hereinafter described, and identically itsedges contact in a fluid-tight manner the adjacent. inner surfaces ofthe work chamber 3. An inner body 7 mounted within the work chamber 3has a portion of its outer surface so shaped as to match the positionsof the edges of the baffle blade 5 during its movements so as tomaintain a fluid-tight contact therebetween. Thus said inner body 7comprises a concave cylindrical portion 7a of a radius equal to thedistance between the axis of the spindle 6 and the outerthe rotor shaft8, said rotor including a single radial blade 9 which separates the workchamber in two subchambers. On the surface 7b or at least on its endportions packing means 18 are provided in order to prevent anycommunication between the two subchambers, i.e., upstream and downstreamof the blade 9. The rotor is caused to rotate successively in oppositedirections through an angle, which is about in the shown embodiments. At10 is indicated a deliveryorifice communicating with a delivery pipe notshown in the drawings, said orifice 10 being arranged in the samesection of the casing where the inlet orifice 2 and the baffle 5 arepositioned. In the respective positions of the parts as shown in solidlines in FIG. 2, the concrete comes out of the entrance orifice 2 andenters the righthand subchamber of the work chamber 3. The rotor blade 9starts to rotate in counterclockwise direction, i.e., in the directionof the solid arrow and pushes the concrete so as to force it to come outof the left-hand subchamber which is now in communication with thedelivery orifice 10. As soon as the blade 9 attains the limitingposition shown in broken lines in FIG. 2, the baffle blade 5 is causedto rotate about the spindle axis through an angle of about 90 to theposition shown in broken lines. In the position of the baffle blade 5the entrance orifice 2 is in communication with the lefthand subchamberof the work chamber 3 and at the same time the right-hand subchamber isin communication with the delivery orifice 10. The rotor blade 9 thenreverses and forces the concrete, previously collected before into theleft-hand subchamber to move in clockwise direction along saidsubchamber as shown in broken line arrow.

In FIG. 3 is diagrammatically shown a system for controlling theoperation of the rotor blade 9 and of the baffle blade 5. A hydraulicjack 12, through a suitable transmission, is adapted to transform thereciprocating rectilinear movement of a piston rod 13 into areciprocating angular movement of the shaft 8 and rotor blade 9 througha predetermined angle of about 180 in this embodiment, and causes therotor blade 9 to rotate alternately in the two angular directions. Atthe limiting positions of the shaft 8, this latter actuates a limitswitch 14a or 14b by. means of a finger 15 projecting from one of theends of the shaft 8 which extends through the pump casing (FIG. 3). Theswitches 14a and 14b control, through an electromagnetic or othersuitable device, the movements of a two-way valve 29, which is designedselectively to convey the pressurized fluid into one or the other of theends of the hydraulic jack 12. The switches 14a and 14b control themovement of another two-way valve 29a feeding a second hydraulic jack 19which moves the baffle blade 5. The displacement of the baffle blade 5must be as rapid as possible in contrast with the movement of the blade9. The rotor blade 9 must move slow and evenly to push forward a pastymass, wet concrete for instance, and must also be powerful enough toensure that the concrete can reach the desired height and/or distance.

The embodiment or variant shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is substantiallysimilar to the preceding one so that similar parts are marked with samenumbers but with subscript a, whereas parts that are exactly the samehave the same numbers. This variant is used in the case of plantswhere-a side delivery pipe cannot be arranged. Thus 2a is the entranceorifice and loathe delivery orifice arranged in the planar end walls 4aand 411 respectively of the pump casing substantially in alignment onewith another. The baffle body comprises a baffle blade 5a carried by acentral spindle 6a, the axis of which is perpendicular and substantiallyincident to the rotor axis. The ends of the spindle 6a are supported bywall portions 20 and 21 respectively.

The inner body 20 includes a surface 20a facing the rotor shaft 9 andshaped as the wall portion 18 of the first embodiment so as toconstitute a partial seat for the shaft 9. As in the previous embodimentthis surface 20a or at least its end portions and/or those of the wall18 designed to come into contact with the baffle blade 5a are providedwith packing means in order to obtain a fluid-tight seal between the twosubchambers positioned upstream and downstream of the rotor blade 9. Ofcourse, also the peripheral edges of the baffle blade 9 and/or theportions of the inner surfaces of the work chamber which contact theperipheral edges of the baffle blade 5a at least at their limitingpositions and where the rotor spindle passes are provided with packingmeans in order to prevent any fluid leakage therethrough.

The pump according to this variant embodiment operates substantially inan identical manner as that of the first embodiment.

I claim:

1. A pump for pumping pasty masses, for example, wet concrete,comprising a charging hopper, a pump casing defining an innercylindrical work chamber which is circular in cross-section, a rotormember having a radial blade reciprocably mounted on a shaft about thecentral axis of said chamber in substantially fluid-tight engagementwith the inner walls of said chamber, said rotor blade separating saidwork chamber into two subchambers, said casing having entrance anddelivery orifices arranged close to one another in one section of thecasing, a baffle blade mounted on a spindle in said section, meansoperatively connected to said blade spindle for oscillating said spindleand said baffle blade between two limiting positions, said baffle bladebeing so shaped that its peripheral edges in its limiting positionscontact in a fluid-tight manner ad jacent inner surfaces of the workchamber and at one of its limiting positions said baffle blade puts oneof said subchambers in communication with the entrance orifice and theother subchamber in communication with the delivery orifice, while atthe other limiting position I of the bafile blade, the second-mentionedsubchamber is in communication with the entrance orifice and thefirst-mentioned subchamber is in communication with the deliveryorifice, while the rotor blade at the same time performs one of itsreciprocating strokes, and means for synchronizing the baffle bladeoscillations in timed sequence with respect of the rotor blade, saidlast-named means including an end portion of the rotor shaft extendingthrough the pump casing which is provided with a projecting finger forcontact with limit switches adapted to control the movements of thebaffle body and rotor blade in a predetermined time sequence, and meansconnected to said limit switches for moving the baffle body relativelyquickly and the rotor blade relatively slowly.

2. A pump according to claim 1, wherein the pump casing has opposedplanar end walls and a cylindrical side wall, the entrance orifice iseccentrically formed in one of the planar end walls of the pump casingand the delivery orifice is formed in its cylindrical side wall, whilethe baffle blade is mounted adjacent said entrance orifice so as to haveits spindle axis perpendicular to the casing planar walls.

3. A pump according to claim 1, wherein the pump casing has opposedplanar end walls and a cylindrical side wall, the entrance and deliveryorifices are coaxial and formed in opposite planar walls of the casing,while the spindle axis of the baffle blade is substantially radial andperpendicular to the rotor shaft.

4. A pump according to claim 1, wherein the work chamber includes a bodyarranged and shaped as to match the adjacent inner surfaces of the rotorshaft and the peripheral edges of the baffle blade during its movement,and packing means being provided to ensure a fluid-tight contact betweenthe facing surfaces.

5. A pump according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral edges of thebaffle blade are provided with packing means.

1. A pump for pumping pasty masses, for example, wet concrete, comprising a charging hopper, a pump casing defining an inner cylindrical work chamber which is circular in cross-section, a rotor member having a radial blade reciprocably mounted on a shaft about the central axis of said chamber in substantially fluid-tight engagement with the inner walls of said chamber, said rotor blade separating said work chamber into two subchambers, said casing having entrance and delivery orifices arranged close to one another in one section of the casing, a baffle blade mounted on a spindle in said section, means operatively connected to said blade spindle for oscillating said spindle and said baffle blade between two limiting positions, said baffle blade being so shaped that its peripheral edges in its limiting positions contact in a fluid-tight manner adjacent inner surfaces of the work chamber and at one of its limiting positions said baffle blade puts one of said subchambers in communication with the entrance orifice and the other subchamber in communication with the delivery orifice, while at the other limiting position of the baffle blade, the second-mentioned subchamber is in communication with the entrance orifice and the first-mentioned subchamber is in communication with the delivery orifice, while the rotor blade at the same time performs one of its reciprocating strokes, and means for synchronizing the baffle blade oscillations in timed sequence with respect of the rotor blade, said last-named means including an end portion of the rotor shaft extending through the pump casing which is provided with a projecting finger for contact with limit switches adapted to control the movements of the baffle body and rotor blade in a predetermined time sequence, and means connected to said limit switches for moving the baffle body relatively quickly and the rotor blade relatively slowly.
 2. A pump according to claim 1, wherein the pump casing has opposed planar end walls and a cylindrical side wall, the entrance orifice is eccentrically formed in one of the planar end walls of the pump casing and the delivery orifice is formed in its cylindrical side wall, while the baffle blade is mounted adjacent said entrance orifice so as to have its spindle axis perpendicular to the casing planar walls.
 3. A pump according to claim 1, wherein the pump casing has opposed planar end walls and a cylindrical side wall, the entrance and delivery orifices are coaxial and formed in opposite planar walls of the casing, while the spindle axis of the baffle blade is substantially radial and perpendicular to the rotor shaft.
 4. A pump according to claim 1, wherein the work chamber includes a body arranged and shaped as to match the adjacent inner surfaces of the rotor shaft and the peripheral edges of the baffle blade during its movement, and packing means being provided to ensure a fluid-tight contact between the facing surfaces.
 5. A pump according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral edges of the baffle blade are provided with packing means. 